GB2164075A

GB2164075A - Tile

Info

Publication number: GB2164075A
Application number: GB08522068A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Richard Buck
Original assignee: JOULITE ROOFING PRODUCTS LIMIT
Current assignee: JOULITE ROOFING PRODUCTS LIMIT
Priority date: 1984-09-08
Filing date: 1985-09-05
Publication date: 1986-03-12
Also published as: GB2164075B; GB8522068D0

Abstract

A tile (10) is formed of a resilient plastics material such as PVC or polypropylene and has a slightly convex form facing outermost in use. The tile (10), when secured, flexes to a more flattened condition for sealing management with adjacent tiles. The tile (10) is formed with integral lugs (16) and location holes (14 Fig. 1), as well as ribs (20 Fig. 2) on its inner face which assist in directing any ingress of water to the lower end of the tile in use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cladding This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to cladding and is particularly but not exclusively concerned with cladding in the form of roofing tiles.

Previously proposed materials from which roofing tiles are constructed result in tiles which are relatively heavy to handle and are susceptible to damage, for example when being incorrectly nailed into position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tile which obviates or mitigates such disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a component for use in cladding, the component being formed from a plastics ma teriai.

Preferably the component is formed of a resilient plastics material and may be injection moulded.

Desirably the plastics material is polyvinylchloride (PVC) or polypropylene which may include certain additives such as a flame-retardant additive, a colouring additive and an ultraviolet stabiliser. The material may also include a blowing agent to reduce the amount of plastics used.

The component preferably has the configuration of a tile, and the component may be so formed that, when secured in position, the component is flexed into a substantially sealing engagement with adjacent components.

For example the component may have a slightly convex form facing outermost in use, whereby securing of the component will flex the component to a more flattened condition in engagement with previously mounted components.

Preferably also formations are provided on an inner face of the component to assist in directing any ingress of water to the lower end of the component in use.

The component may also be formed with locating lugs on its upper end, and may be provided with location holes near to its upper end for passing of fixings therethrough.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan of a tile according to the invention; Figure 2 is an underneath plan of a tile according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the tile of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, a roofing tile 10 has a conventional rectangular configuration and is of any convenient dimensions. The tile 10 is formed of a plastics material such as PVC or polypropylene and is injection moulded. The material preferably contains a flame retardant additive and a colouring additive such that the tile can simulate existing roofing tiles. The plastics material also preferably incorporates a blowing agent which reduces the amount of plastics used and accordingly reduces the cost of producing the tile.

The plastics material also incorporates an ultra-violet (UV) stabiliser to extend service life.

One face 12 of the tile 10 is formed to be substantially smooth and constitutes the outermost face of the tile when in use. At the end which is uppermost in use the tile is provided with a pair of location holes 14 through which nails or the like can be passed to secure the tile in position on a roof batten. Also on the upper end edge the tile 10 is formed to have a pair of spaced locating lugs 16 projecting from its innermost face 18 to assist in locating the tile on the roof batten.

On the inner face 18 the line 10 is formed with an arrangement of ribs, the arrangement comprising a plurality of parallel spaced ribs 20 extending between the upper and lower ends of the tile 10 and a plurality of parallel spaced ribs 22 extending between the sides of the tile 10. The ribs 20, 22 act in strengthening the tile 10 and the ribs 20 also have a further function as hereinafter described.

In cross-section, the tile 10 has an arcuate profile slightly convex towards the outermost face 12. With this form when the tile is mounted on the roof and secured in position, the securing tends to flatten the convex shape and, by virtue of the flexing of the material of the tile, creates a substantially sealing engagement between the tile 10 and the adjacent tiles previously mounted on the roof. In the event of any ingress of water underneath the tile by way of capillary action, the water tends to be led downwardly of the tile by the outermost ribs 20 and this helps in preventing water from reaching the wooden batten.

The tile so produced is therefore advantageous in that it is lightweight relative to existing roofing tiles and is inexpensive and easy to produce. The tile can be coloured as desired and indeed can incorporate any motif or the like as desired by the end user. The shape of the tile dispenses with the need for any securing arrangement other than the nails or the like locatable through the holes 14 and the tile tends to more efficiently prevent ingress of rainwater to the roof.

The tile can also be used as cladding, for example to form the walls as well as the roofs of structures such as sheds and garages. The tiles may be mounted on suitable frame members and may of course be produced in sizes appropriate to wall cladding use which may differ from the sizes suitable for use on roofs.

The use of such tiles, for example in constructing sheds and garages, can result in structures which are easy and inexpensive to build and yet can be sufficiently robust and watertight. It will of course be appreciated that tiles can be used as cladding for other structures.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the shape of the tile may vary from that described and shown and the rib arrangement may also be varied. Although desirable, it need not be necessary for loation holes to be provided in the tile.

Claims

1. A component for use in cladding, the component being formed from a plastics material.

2. A component according to claim 1, which is formed of a resilient plastics material.

3. A component according to claim 1 or 2, wHich is injection moulded.

4. A component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastics material is polyvinylchloride.

5. A component according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plastics material is polypropylene.

6. A component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastics material includes a flame-retardant additive.

7. A component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastics material includes a colouring additive.

8. A component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastics material includes a blowing agent.

9. A component according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastics material includes an ultra-violet stabiliser.

10. A component according to any of the preceding claims, which has the configuration of a tile.

11. A component according to claim 10, wherein the component has a convex form outermost in use, whereby securing of the component flexes the component to a more flattened condition.

12. A component according to claim 10 or 11, wherein formations are provided on one face of the component.

13. A component according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the component is formed with locating lugs at one end.

14. A component according to claim 13, wherein the component is formed with location holes near to said one end for passing of fixings therethrough.

15. A component for use in cladding substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

16. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.